Melissa Petro is a freelance writer, writing instructor, and author in New York City. Days after my story was publicized, my writer friends and other industry folks begrudgingly congratulated me on my presumably imminent book deal. It took about two years to write the book proposal, and I wrote the book in about nine months. She was a Facebook friend of mine whom I saw left her job as a book editor to become a literary agent, so I reached out to her. After working with her to craft my book proposal that ultimately sold, it was a different book — a better one.

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Persons: Melissa Petro, I'd, NYC Department of Education —, that's, begrudgingly, who'd, you'll, I've, bylines, it's, she'd, They'll Organizations: Service, Big, Fine Arts, New York Post, NYC Department of Education, Putnam Books, Penguin Random, PEN Locations: New York City, Wall, Silicon